The penultimate event in the Cork Orienteering
Club 2016 Summer League attracted a crowd of almost 90 orienteers to
Warrenscourt Wood near Lissarda on Tuesday evening. With just two
competitive events left in the league many participants were eager to
improve on their present league standing and were hoping for a fast and
error free run on the night. For others the key goal was to complete the
course to finish the league.

All those who make the journey west
got to enjoy some technical orienteering in this charming wood. The
fine evening accentuated the fabulous views and picturesque features in
this forest. Once again it was great to have some novice orienteers in
attendance and we were delighted to welcome some orienteers from
Lakeland Orienteering Club in the UK who took in our event while
holidaying in the region. We hope you all enjoyed the courses and the
terrain in Warrenscourt Wood.

The planners resurveyed the area
and the Long course took contestants to sections of the map which were
previously off limits. Warrenscourt is infamous for brambles and in the
event preview the planner indicated that no where do you need to go
through brambles. However orienteering is all about route choice and
sometimes the prospect of rough bushes with vines and often sharp thorns
clearly marked as undergrowth on the map just wasn’t enough to dissuade
some competitors from opting for the shortest routes. Many entrants
quickly discovered on Tuesday night that the shorter routes aren’t
always the fastest!

The Short course comprised a nice loop which
took competitors through a beautiful area of forest run. Some of the
trails in this area were a little bumpy for some of our buggy-O
competitors. Both courses commenced with a steep and tough climb toward
the first control. From here competitors on the Long course were taken
into an area of slow forest run for a number of controls before a fast
descent to control five. Those competitors who did a bit of forward
planning on this leg would have quickly realised that this downhill
running was to be savoured as the leg which followed would involve a
long slow climb back to control 6. This was followed by a sequence of
short fast legs with some directional changes in a lovely section of
runnable forest.

The leg from 9 to 10 offered some interesting
route choices one could take the safe route along the path or opt for
the shorter direct route which required some careful navigation through
this relatively dense section of forest and some accurate map reading of
the vast network of deep gullies. Indeed some competitors heading to
control 15 also located in this area could have encountered a stampede
of orienteers rushing through this region in all directions as they
tried to locate control 10. No doubt some of these competitors deviated
from their intended route and lost valuable seconds here.

The leg
from 10 to 11 was another which enticed some to take the shorter direct
route rather than the more caution but slightly longer bramble free
approach around the path. These calculated risks paid off for some but
for others they got pushed off course and wasted valuable time
attempting to relocate. More route choice decisions needed to be made on
the short leg from 12 to 13. The sight of the thick undergrowth was
enough for some competitors to immediately decide to go around this
block of vegetation. However others were not deterred by this unpleasant
mass of brambles and barged straight through (well almost!).

Control
14 and 15 took competitors back into the intricate network of gullies.
These deep gullies provided excellent channels for some fast running in
this otherwise dense forest. However you did need to know precisely
which gully you were in! Both courses concluded with some fast running
along a very scenic fire road which was encircled by the flourishing
trees on either side and lined with ferns and brightly coloured
foxgloves which glistened in the evening sun. Tuesday’s courses
comprised a great mix of technical navigation and fast running.
Understanding the map symbols and colours is essential when choosing
routes so for those that quickly regretted some of their route choices
on the night the following link has the full list of the IOF
Orienteering Map symbols which are well worth studying.

After
a busy time organising last week’s event the Corbett family were back
in competitive action this week and they really dominated on the Long
course in Warrenscourt Wood. Cillin Corbett demonstrated incredible
speed and fast and efficient route choice to take the event win. He
completed the 4.3km course in a time of 27:42 and had over two minutes
to spare over his nearest challenger, his Dad Brian. Cillin claimed the
bragging rights this week and Brian having punched all 17 controls in a
time of 29:47 had to settle for the runners up spot on the night.
Further congratulations are also due to Cillin as he has just been
selected to represent Ireland at this year's World Sprint Orienteering
Championships. The qualification race will take place on Saturday 20th
August in Strömstad, Sweden and all of us wish him the very best of luck
on the day. C’mon Ireland! The final podium spot went to an orienteer
that has been steadily improving his times over the course of the
league. He has had a number of top ten finishes to date and finally
achieved a top three ranking. Third place in Warrenscourt went to Jens
Waechter who covered the testing course in a time of 32:27.

The
honour of being the fastest lady around Warrenscourt Wood went to
another member of the Corbett family. Niamh Corbett was not going to let
the men in the house have all the glory and she too demonstrated her
orienteering prowess on the Long course and was first lady home having
completed the course in a time of 38:21. Claire O’Brien continues to
show her orienteering pace and skill and finished runner up on the
night, she covered the course in a time of 46:54. Coming into the
Warrenscourt event Claire had a share of the top spot on the ladies
leader board with Trishia O’Mahony. However this second place finish
should be enough to edge her passed Trishia and might even have secured
her the 2016 Long Course Women’s League title. Although there is still a
possibility that Trishia could grab a share of this title again if she
wins the Glenbower event next week and Claire doesn’t improve on her
current point’s total. Third place went to Elaine Sheridan when she
finished the 4.3km course in a time of 48:55. Things are very close now
at the top of the ladies leader board as just three points separates
Elaine, Michelle Ahern and Sinead O’Donoghue. It’s all set up for a very
exciting conclusion to the league in Glenbower next week.

Things
were very competitive on the Short course on Tuesday night and just 23
seconds separated our top two finishers over the 2.1km course. It was
Fadzai Healy who emerged the victor when she completed the course in a
time of 17:03. Very impressive running and navigation from this novice
orienteer. Hot on Fadzai’s heels were the Black Family. They pooled
their navigational skills together and punched all ten controls in a
time of 17:26. Another family who have been demonstrating great team
work throughout the league attained their best result to date when they
took the final podium spot in Warrenscourt Wood. The Brett family
otherwise known as The Bretts of Fresh Air took third place when the
completed the course in a time of 18:57. They managed to hold off a
strong challenge from Michael Morley who finished a meagre 12 seconds
behind them.

Well done to all who participated on the night. Full individual results with split times are available here.

Huge
thanks this week must go to two of our most steadfast club members who
not only planned and organised this event but have assisted greatly with
numerous events throughout the league. This dynamic duo resurveyed the
area which introduced even the most seasoned summer league supporters to
areas of this forest they had never seen before. They also planned
excellent courses which tested both the body and brain! So enormous
thanks to Jim O’Donovan and Robert O’Connor for their fantastic work.
Thanks again to Darren Burke for controlling the event, Dave O’Donovan
for taking care of starts and Gerald Duffy for providing the fabulous
selection of refreshments at the finish.

There is just one more
competitive event left in our summer series and this will take place
next Tuesday in Glenbower Wood in Killeagh then we will have our grand
finale at Farran Forest Park in two weeks’ time with a fun relay race,
BBQ and prize-giving. So if you are looking to move up the results table
or hoping to reel in your orienteering nemesis then don’t miss our
Glenbower event.

Glenbower Wood surrounds part of the Dissour
River and has a variety of unique features from a Fainin’s Well with
alleged curative properties to a mass rock as well as an impressive
assortment of bridges and of course a cave! Further forest trivia and a
location map are available here.

Hope you can join us as the competitive part of our 2016 summer series draws to a close.